Pole feeding device for pole peeling machines



April 25, 1950 R. c, AUGUSTIN POLE FEEDI ENG DEVICE FOR POLE FEELING MACHINES Filed Jan. 9, 1948 i: lllil Q A llll @EE F 3 INVENTOR. RA v C. Auaaswxv.

ATTOR YE Y- Patented Apr. 25 1950 "POLE FEEDING DEVICE FOR POLE FEELING MACHINES Ray C. Augustin, Sedalia, Colo.

- Application January 9, 1948, Serial No, 1,395

This'invention relates to a pole peeling machine of the type commonly known as rossing machines for decorticating timber for the production of poles, such as telephone, telegraph,

electric, and fence poles from logs. The principal object of this invention is to provide a pole feeding device for pole peeling machines whereby the operator will have instant and accurate control over the travel of the pole through the, peeling machine, in order to obtain the most complete and efficient peeling action thereon.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be of small size, lightweight, and self-contained, so that it may be readily moved from job to job.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy. and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

' In the following detailed description of the inivention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. 'Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In'the drawings: I

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved pole peeling machine; and

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

The mechanism for the improved machine is carried on a rectangular main frame consisting of horizontal members l and H supported on vertical posts l2. Two V-shaped side frames, each consisting of two inclined members I3 and I4 positioned at an angle of 90 to each other,

are positioned at each side of one extremity of the main frame.

Each of the inclined members [3 and I4 carries two roller studs l5. A rotatable ring plate It is mounted between the four rollers I5 of the members I3, and a similar rotatable ring plate I! is mounted between the four rollers 15 of the members I4. The edges of the plates l6 and I! ride in grooves in the rollers l5 so as to be firmly supported, yet freely rotatable therein.

The peripheral edges of both plates l6 and I! are grooved to receive and endless cable l8 which extends around one-half the circumference of each plate and around idler pulleys I9 positioned at each side of the frames I4 between the plates. Thus, it can be seen that if either plate 16 or I! is rotated, the other plate will be simultaneously rotated in the same direction.

The ring plate I1 is manually rotated in either direction by means of a projecting arm 24 which 66 2 Claims. (Cl. 144-246) is connected by means of a connecting rod 25 with a hand lever 26. The connections between the arm 2d and the lever 25 are made by universal joints, preferably ball-and-socket joints 27.

The lever 25 is mounted in a hinge clip 28 secured on a cross shaft 29. The axis of the hinge clip is at right angles to the axis of the shaft 29, so that the lever 26 may be swung in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft 29 for the purpose of imparting rotation to the ring plate H.

The plateslfi and I1 carry oppositely positioned shaft bearings 20 in which wheel axle shafts 21 are mounted, which extend diametrically across the plates. The shafts 2! carry pneumatically tired wheels 22 upon which the pole to be peeled, indicated at 23, is carried.

The actual cutting or peeling is done by means of a rotary planer knife head 38 which is rotatably mounted in a knife frame 3!. The knife frame is supported from a rotatable outer sleeve 32 which is rotatably mounted on the extremity of a cylindrical hinged boom 33. The boom 33 is welded or otherwise secured to, and projects perpendicularly from, a cross shaft 34 mounted in bearing hangers 35 on one extremity of the top frame Ilj The boom 33 carries a motor platform 36 upon which a suitable drive motor 31 is mounted. The motor is positioned with relation to the axis of the shaft 34 to substantially counterbalance the weight of the boom 33 and the frame 3|. The cutter head 30 is driven from the motor 3'! by means of an endless belt 38.

The boom is raised and lowered from a lifting arm 39 which is secured on, and projects from, the shaft 29 through the medium of a connecting link 5|. Thus, it can be seen that if the hand lever 26 is swung longitudinally of the frame II, it will raise and lower the cutter head 30. If this lever is swung laterally of the longitudinal axis of the frame, it will rotate the ring plates l6 and I1. Simultaneous movements of both the cutter head and the ring plates can be obtained by movements in intermediate directions.

The wheels 2! and 22 are driven from a second motor 40 and a speed reducer 4| through the medium of endless belts 42 and 43. The belt 42 drives a first countershaft 44, and the belt 43 drives a second countershaft 45 through the medium of suitable belt pulleys.

The shaft 44 carries a pair of belt pulleys, from which a pair of belts 41 extend to belt pulleys on the shaft 2| at each side of the wheel 22 on the ring plate H. The second countershaft 45 is also provided with a pair of belt pulleys from which a pair of endless belts 46 extends to belt pulleys on each side of the wheel 22 on the ring plate I6.

The wheels in Fig. 2 rotate in a counter-clockwise direction so as to rotate the pole 23 in a clockwise direction. The cutter head 30 also rotates in a clockwise direction so that the movements of the pole and the cutter head are opposed for quickly peeling the pole.

The poles are fed to the machine in any desired manner, usually from a truck or dolly which supports one end of the pole while the other rests on the wheels 22. The operator can cause the pole to travel forward and back at any desired speed by inclining the wheels 22 at various angles and in alternating directions by means of the hand lever 26. He can "also lowerthe cutter head into cutting position and hold it against the pole by this same handle.

Since the knife frame is mounted on the sleeve 32, and since the latter is rotatable on the boom 33, the cutter head can tilt to accommodate the natural taper of the pole, if any. If it is desired to prevent the cutter head from tilting, a latch 48 is provided on the boom. The latch has one side rounded and the other straight. It is rotatable on the boom so that the rounded side may be brought between two pins 49 on the sleeve 32 to prevent the latter from rotating, or the latch may be rotated 180 to bring the flat side toward the sleeve 32 out of contact with the pins 49.

The knife frame 3| is supported in proper spaced relation to the pole by means of suitable runners 50 which are vertically adjustable in any desired manner to adjust the depth of cut of the knives.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1s:

1. In a pole peeling machine, a pole feeding device comprising: an elongated frame; a pair of inclined supporting members carried by said frame below a cutter head and forming a V- shaped frame; an annular, rotatable disc mounted on each supporting member in V-shaped relation; a wheel axle extending across each disc; a wheel mounted on each axle, said wheels being in opposed relation so as to support a pole therebetween; an endless flexible member passing about both discs to cause them to rotate in unison; means for rotating said discs to vary the angle of said wheels in relation to the axis of said pole; and means for rotating said wheels.

2. In a pole peeling machine, a pole feeding device comprising: an elongated frame; a pair of inclined supporting members carried by said frame below a cutter head and forming a V- shaped frame; an annular, rotatable disc mounted on each supporting member in V-shaped relation'; a wheel axle extending across each disc; a Wheel mounted on each axle, said wheels being in opposed relation so as to support a pole therebetween; an endless flexible member passing about both discs'to cause them to rotate in unison; an arm projecting from one disc; a manual operating lever; a connecting rod ex tending from said arm to said lever for rotating said discs to vary the angle of said wheels in relation to the axis of said pole; and means for rotatin said wheels. I g V v,

RAY C. AUGUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Z35,79 3 Moreau Aug". 11, 1903 1,090,463 Eidsaether Mar. 1'7, 1914 1,921,904 Beznei' a--- Aug 8, 1933 1,986,707 Bezner Jan. 1, 1935 2,230,33 Taylor et 1. Feb. 4, 1941 2,305,281 Taylor et a1. Dec. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 'ccu'ntry Date 514,037 Germany Dec. 6, 1930 

